The Hidden Dangers of Wrist Rests: Why They're Not Your Friend

You may be reading this at your keyboard; hands laid gently on some squishy wrist rests. These comfortable pads can sometimes seem to make your keyboarding experience more pleasant. But do not be lulled to sleep by these hand pillows, they also have a dark side.

Laying palms down on the wrist rest promotes wrist pivoting to reach different keys which causes undue stress on wrist extensors. Constant wrist pivoting puts strain on the wrist extensor musculature. Repetitive strain in this way can cause tendonitis and lateral epicondylitis.

Rests can also cause poor posture by promoting overly extended or flexed wrist positioning. It also provides constant pressure to the palm. This can make one much more susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome. Poor posture can also have a downstream effect on shoulder and neck pain

Instead of using rests, try some of these solutions to promote better ergonomics:

1. Floating over the keyboard allows you to use larger muscles in your elbow and shoulder to move around the keyboard. These muscles are designed to take frequent load better than your wrist extensors.

2. Wrists neutral positioning. Your carpal tunnel is most happy when the wrist is neither extended or flexed. Wrist neutral positioning reduces carpal tunnel pressure. You can check this by laying a ruler over the back of your wrist. If the ruler is not flat on both your hand and forearm then the position is too high or too low.

3. A split keyboard can also be a good alternative that reduces pressure at elbows and palm. By taking the hand out of full pronation the pressure moving to your elbows are reduced.

4. Take regular short breaks. Even giving your muscles a short respite for 5 minutes an hour can reduce your risk of injury.

In conclusion, while wrist rests are a common accessory in many people’s work setups, they can contribute to poor posture, repetitive stress injuries, and discomfort. The idea of providing support for the wrists is appealing, but in practice, wrist rests often cause more harm than good. Instead, focus on ergonomic adjustments, neutral wrist alignment, and regular breaks to promote better posture and reduce the risk of injury